The University of Law Lecturer Sarah Zaghloul (of Ontario) discusses the Canadian Pathway at the university! View this very informative session to learn more about studying at the University of Law and transitioning to being eligible to practice law in Canada.

Recorded: 28 July 2022

This online session provides insight into studying Law at the University of Worcester.  Worcester aims to provide innovative and high-quality law degrees that prepare students for the profession, while also encouraging them to be contributors to society.  They take pride in their schedule of extracurricular and employability programs to further help student development.  Watch this session to learn more about opportunities for law study at Worcester.

(Recorded: 9 November 2021)

I always knew I wanted to study abroad after completing my bachelor’s degree, but deciding where to go was the most difficult part for me. Luckily, one of my Internet research sessions led me to find Across the Pond. With the help of my advisor I found several schools in the UK that offered graduate programs I was interested in. I applied to several programs, but finally decided to attend Oxford Brookes for their MA Publishing.

Oxford Brookes appealed to me for a number of reasons: their student satisfaction rating was very high on a number of different websites, the lecturers on the publishing program had a history of industry experience, and the modules listed for the degree seemed directly relevant to the field. I wanted a master’s program that would help me gain industry experience as quickly as possible, and the Brookes MA has really lived up to my expectations. Already by the end of my first semester I had secured a work experience placement. I have since also acquired two volunteer positions related to publishing. If you want to learn the skills you need to be a publisher and have supportive teachers and advisors to help you get experience in the industry, I’ve found both through the MA Publishing at Oxford Brookes.

Some of the courses I’ve taken for my MA include an editorial module (with a proofreading tutorial), a marketing module, and a module covering design and production for publishing. In my second semester I am currently studying my elective modules: New Product Development (an editorial-based course), Rights Management, and Children’s Publishing. During this semester we are also required to submit a proposal for our final dissertation or major project that will be completed over the summer to finish the course.

I moved to Oxford just a week before the start of classes for my degree, in mid-September. I found it to be a beautiful city full of old buildings and rich history, and also quite a change from the busy urban setting where I had studied for my bachelor’s in Canada. While it may not have all the amenities of a big city like London or Toronto, the transit is easy to use, the city centre has decent shopping and there are loads of nice places to eat.

Oxford may not be a big city, but it is a very expensive place to live. Once you add up the cost of rent, utilities, food, and a transit pass, staying in residence starts to seem a little appealing. The postgraduate residence where I chose to stay (Clive Booth Student Village) ended up being the most cost-effective for me as the fees covered everything from Internet to a local bus pass, plus the location was close to all of the campus sites I needed to access for classes.

One of the nice things about my program in particular is that we are offered the chance to participate in school-coordinated travel to book fairs all over Europe. I had a chance to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, and I will also be attending the Bologna Book Fair in Italy later this year. There are lots of places to see near Oxford as well, just an hour or two away by bus or train. Many of my classmates go to Bath on weekends, or take the bus to London. If you’re from Canada or America where the norm is traveling for a long time but getting nowhere, the UK is a pleasant change, because a two-hour train ride can get you to Paris! Travel is definitely one of the perks of studying in the UK… when your classes afford you the time, of course.

Everything about moving from Canada to the UK was a big step for me, and working with an advisor from Across the Pond helped ease the process a little bit. It was reassuring to know I could ask my advisor whenever I had a question about my school choices, my applications, or my VISA, and I would always get a prompt response. I also found the documents provided to me just before my move, like the Pre-Departure Guide, helped prepare me a little more for what life would be like in England. To any new student looking to study at Oxford Brookes, my advice would be to put yourself out there! Especially in the field of publishing, meeting people is the best way to gain experience, learn new things, and get access to resources (for example, those sought-after internships)!

There are some really good resources available at Brookes, from the lecturers themselves to the careers centre, librarians, and the Brookes Union. If you’re going to make an international move for school, make the most of all the new experiences, and talk to people! It can be hard to be sociable at first in a new place surrounded by new people, but I found the MA Publishing students to be a very international and very friendly group.

Taking a risk is worth it!

Why did you choose City, University of London?

I chose City for the location and the academic reputation. City is located in the heart of London, which meant I would not only get to live in one of the most central areas in London but I would also get the opportunity to travel around Europe easily. City also has a tremendous history and very notable alumni, which was very appealing to me!

What is your favourite aspect of your course?

My favourite aspect of the course is getting to choose elective modules for third year from a wide range of courses that are rarely offered elsewhere. It allowed me to explore different areas of law, such as aviation law, medical law, family and child law, Canadian corporate law and Canadian constitutional law. 

What’s been the highlight of your time at City so far?

My highlight at City has been making friends from all over the world - City is home to students from over 160 countries. I have friends from the UK, Spain, Turkey, India, America, Canada and many other countries. I feel like I have learned so much about different cultures and countries by having friends that belong to these countries, and it also gives me a chance to be able to visit them one day. 

How is City helping you prepare for your chosen career path?

As a Canadian student studying law, my goal is to go home and practice law in Canada. City has helped me by providing personal tutors as well as a Career Services department. City assigns personal tutors to students, allowing them to get the guidance they need in terms of their whole university career. My personal tutor has always been available to answer questions and guide me in the right direction. City’s Careers Service has helped me polish my CV, prepared me for interviews and assisted me in finding jobs and internships.